We’d all love to drive the latest, hottest historic vehicles, and those who can should rejoice that they are able to drive whatever currently spins up their tach. Regardless of brand, style, or even condition, these vehicles are often extensions of us and are considered with the same regard as friends or family. Rather than overlooking them when troubles arise, every effort is made to ensure that these relationships last and grow through interaction and improvement.

Thankfully, the effort to maintain longstanding relationships with our favorite rides has become ever more accessible in recent years, thanks to a growing number of shops capable of keeping automotive history and the passion alive. Utilizing an inexhaustible array of aftermarket components to support such efforts, many great cars have been updated rather than replaced, as is the case with this ’69 Dodge Charger.

A Labor of Love: The ’69 Dodge Charger

One look at this real-world muscle car and you know that it’s been a labor of love for both the current and the previous owners. When Hardcore Racing’s Ronnie Duke first took a liking to the car, it was due, in part, to the numerous modifications that had already been made. Then again, Duke had changes of his own in mind when he bought it, including modifications to the chassis necessitated by the upgrades to the engine. From there, other alterations would be made to keep this Charger where it belongs—on the road. This car is truly an extension of what Hardcore Racing is all about: building and maintaining enthusiast vehicles that are as much about function as they are tradition.

Upgrading the Rear Suspension

One of the first modifications came with an upgrade to the rear suspension, in which the rear leaf springs were replaced with Mopar Performance’s Pro Stock springs to maintain better control of the Strange Engineering Dana 60 that was also on the “to-do” list. What differentiates these units from the stock springs is that the passenger’s-side spring had six leaves, while the driver’s-side spring uses five, which better offsets the torque load applied to the suspension and plants both rear tires equally.

Boosting Performance with a Supercharged Engine

Already stout from the start, the 440 Magnum V-8 in this Charger thundered beneath a Roots-style BDS 6-71 supercharger topped with twin Edelbrock four-barrels. The horsepower it produced had certainly put smiles on faces and rubber on asphalt, but as is often the case, that kind of treatment took its measure on a variety of components. As good as it was, the countless hours spent enjoying what this car could do eventually led to change, and as it is so often said, “change is good!”

Enhancing Reliability and Safety

More a matter of necessity than choice, the first alterations you’ll see applied here were made in the name of reliability and/or safety, as time had taken its toll on several hard-pressed aspects of this Charger. Nowhere was this more true than with the existing wiring loom that, in retrospect, had been in need of replacement for some time. Interestingly enough, it was the failure of the charging system that initiated this entire update, and once the electrical system was freshened up, even bigger changes were put into effect.

Replacing the Wiring Loom

Since the original wiring loom had been modified throughout the car’s lifetime, a Year One loom was chosen for the replacement, as it came fitted with all of the appropriate connectors needed for this application. An added benefit of the Year One loom came from its ease of installation, taking these changes full circle in just a short time. While the wiring loom might not seem imperative to performance, it is, in fact, the car’s lifeline. When it fails, everything stops, so making this repair was very beneficial to the overall effort.

Upgrading the Carburetion System

Another area of concern was the carburetion, which had long since outlived its effectiveness. Consistent hard use had stretched its limits, much like the linkage, taking the twin four-barrels to a point where new options and replacements were necessary. While the 650cfm Edelbrock carburetors had done their job for a long time and could have easily been upgraded utilizing the company’s rebuild kit, it was decided that a pair of 650cfm Mighty Demons from Barry Grant might be a better choice for what they had in mind. Naturally, this would require a few changes to bridge the transition, and while the process was fairly simple, the result of this change alone proved to be very effective.

Installation of the New Carburetors

Once the tired Edelbrock units were disconnected from the linkage and manifold, the new carburetors were readied for installation. As the baseplate for the Mighty Demon carburetors differs from that used with the Edelbrocks, a new baseplate was fitted, along with a new plenum suited to this arrangement. The old linkage was replaced as well, with a new BDS linkage suited to this combination and, once in place, the new progressive linkage more effectively actuated the carburetors. Smooth in action and balanced with a seemingly ideal spring tension, the application of power was improved dramatically, thanks in no small part to the brand-new pair of Mighty Demons from Barry Grant.

Impressive Dyno Results

With all of the alterations made and the engine tuned to maximize the overall results, the car made repeated runs on the Dynojet chassis dyno, which revealed impressive numbers, especially in comparison to the figures logged before these modifications were made. In the original setup, the rear wheels churned out 386 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. If this seems low, consider that this is rear wheel horsepower, not crankshaft power. When you consider the losses of the drivetrain, horsepower readings at the flywheel would be in the neighborhood of 430 or so. But with the carburetor change and a tune-up, and the addition of a new Hughes 727 automatic transmission and converter, the dyno readouts were far more impressive. A peak of 441 horsepower and 412 lb-ft. of torque was recorded repeatedly. Needless to say, simply changing the carburetors and fine-tuning the engine was very effective in terms of performance and, more important, this change was cost-effective.

Addressing Steering Modifications

Once all of the changes were secured around the engine, attention was turned to the steering and, more to the point, the steering wheel, which had been the center of attention in this Charger for a very long time. See our accompanying sidebar for this quick install.

The Road Ahead for Ronnie Duke’s Charger

Although even more changes are in the planning stages for Ronnie Duke’s Charger, the updates we’ve followed here have greatly improved the driving experience through notable performance gains. Reliability was also restored in the charging system, while the carburetion modifications have brought the 440 a new lease on life. Power is up, as is reliability, which is key to enjoying any car, let alone one as cool as this.

The Importance of Long-Term Automotive Relationships

While Duke could have looked to another car to express his automotive passion, he did as many of us have and reworked a car he already had a history with. Like an old friend, he stayed with this car despite its former shortcomings. Instead, he took well-planned steps to return this vibrant Mopar to newfound glory, something that would likely be less rewarding with a new ride. Each of us has our own way of enjoying super rodding, but fortunately, there are enthusiasts who have come to understand the importance of these long-term relationships. As the miles pass and memorable experiences inevitably arise, the bond between car and owner becomes stronger than ever. And that, after all, is what super rodding is all about.